Council adjusts pay to compensate for federal tax exemption removal

Tyler Marr

August 09, 2018 02:00 pm

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By Tyler Marr

Following a move by the federal government to eliminate a one-third non-taxable allowance for municipal officials, Prince Albert’s city councillors have voted to adjust their pay to ensure it remains the same.

Prince Albert lawmakers are not alone in the move, after Ottawa nixed a rule which allowed councillors and mayors across Canada to effectively declare a third of their salaries as a tax-free allowance in lieu of claiming expenses in their 2017 budget. The change will come into effect Jan. 1, 2019.